By Clemans Miyanicwe and Chamwe Kaira, 18 July 2013

Namibia: No Unfair EPA Deal

THE government says it will not change its stance on the signing of the new European Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). Namibia has argued that in its current form the agreement does not favour the needs of Namibia and that the country will get a raw deal if it signs the agreement as it is.

The EU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are negotiating a comprehensive EPA.

The stance of the government was repeated on Tuesday by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Malan Lindeque, during a media briefing with EU Commissioner of Trade, Karel De Gucht.

"An ideal solution is to negotiate for a win-win situation, Namibia will not be forced by external forces to sign EPA," Lindeque said adding that the government's stance on EPA has not changed and that Namibia will only sign the EPA if it is in the country's interests to do so.

On July the 16th EU Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht, met senior Government officials including the Right Honourable Prime Minister Dr. Hage Geingob and Minister of Trade and Industry, Calle Schlettwein to discuss the current status of the EPA negotiations.

Lindeque said that although trade between Namibia and the EU stands at 2 billion euros (about N$26 billion), it is still an uphill battle for some Namibian products to get into the EU market.

"A mutual and beneficial agreement on constructive manners is what Namibia wants," said Lindeque adding that Namibia wants an agreement that will benefit it in the long run. "Circumstances of each country must be accommodated," he said.

De Gucht expressed hope that the meeting with Prime Minister Hage Geingob, and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Calle Schlettwein, will help to bring the talks closer to a conclusion.

"Namibia currently enjoys free access to the EU market, Namibian products whether industrial or agricultural do not pay duty at EU's borders and are not subject to quotas but this regime is based on a temporary instrument which will end on 1 October 2014," De Gucht said.

De Gucht warned that after that date "Namibia would not be eligible for preferential treatment for its exports to EU unless it ratifies an EPA."

De Gucht said he was committed to bringing the negotiations on an EPA to conclusion as soon as possible to so that Namibia continues to enjoy free access to the EU market.